Method and apparatus for reducing EMI emissions from a power inverter

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EP 2 043 418 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	15.09.2010 Bulletin 2010/37

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	01.04.2009 Bulletin 2009/14

(21)	Application number: 08165439.4

(22)	Date of filing: 29.09.2008

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International Patent Classification (IPC):

H05K 9/00^(2006.01)
H02M 7/00^(2006.01)

H05K 7/14^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL BA MK RS

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Priority:

28.09.2007 US 864341

(71)	Applicant: Hitachi Ltd.
	Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-8280 (JP)

(72)	Inventors:
	Funato, Hiroki Novi, MI 48375 (US) Shao, Liang Ann Arbor, MI 48108 (US) Torigoe, Makoto West Bloomfield, MI 48322 (US)

(74)	Representative: MERH-IP Matias Erny Reichl Hoffmann
	Paul-Heyse-Strasse 29 80336 München 80336 München (DE)

(54)	Method and apparatus for reducing EMI emissions from a power inverter

(57) A power inverter (20) for a hybrid automotive vehicle (100) having a case (22) with an interior and at least one electrical port (26) mounted on the case (22) to electrically connect electrical signals from the interior of the case (22) to an exterior device. A cable connector (28) is associated with each electrical port (26) while a non-electrical sensing conductor (34) extends serially through each electrical port (26) and its associated cable connector (28). A circuit is provided which detects a break in the continuity of the sensing conductor (34) and generates a signal representative of that break in continuity. The non-electrical sensing conductor (34) thus minimizes the emission of EMI from the inverter (20). Additionally, a circuit board (60) is mounted within the interior of the case (22) by fasteners (76) which minimize the spacing between the circuit board (60) and the case (22) to further reduce EMI emissions.

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